[Trantor]

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Before you tell me that Quantum Mechanics says there is, consider this:

The only way we can know about a particle's position is via our senses, the most appropriate of which is vision. For our eyes to detect something we need photons to transmit information.

In the case of particles on a small scale similar to photons it stands to reason that the ability of photons to transmit reliable information is restricted, just as you could not get a very accurate picture on your TV screen or digital camera if it only used 1 or 2 pixels instead of several million.

It is my understanding that this limitation of photons' ability to transmit information is the key to the uncertainty principle, and therefore what seems like inherent randomness in the universe really isn't. The particle is there, only we can never know for sure, no matter how accurate our measuring devices become. The limitation applies to us and not the universe.

Just as Sklansky is looking for evidence to support the existence of God via his threads on miracles, I am looking for evidence to support atheism ie. that randomness actually exists in the observable universe and not just in our minds.

I currently am a believer in God, but if I see convincing evidence about the above, then I would seriously begin considering atheism. Any help, info., links, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

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Even as a "devout" atheist I would not say that proof of randomness in the universe would be a grounds for denying the existance of a God.

As a physicist I offer the following brief comments.

The inherent randomness of the universe exhibits itself at small scales where the most appropriate observational tool is most defiitely not the eye. When did you last see an atom?


The photon / uncertainty example you mention is a a sort of classical explanation of Heisenburg's uncertainty principle i respect of the double slit experiment but the uncertainty principle is not a result of this sort of observational interaction.

As to quantum mechanics, I'm afraid I have to refer to this as this is the explanation of how things are. It is inherent in this theory, the randomness you talk about. No test to date has disproved quantum mechanics and the inherent "randomness" of aspects of the theory.

Quantum electrodynamics, in particular, is the most accurate theory known to man at the present time.

The thhing to bear in mind is that uncertainty of quantum mechanics does not arise from the paucity of the measurement apparatus but is a fundamental of the theory (as understood today). There are efforts to remove the randomness by hidden variable theory but there is no demonstration that this view is correct.

So, the universe as presently understood appears inherently random in certain aspects, ie in regimes where quantum mechanics applies.